SANDERSVILLE, Ga. () – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is raising money to help a deputy hospitalized after a car crash while on duty.

Just three weeks ago, Deputy Gordon Alley was responding to a call for help from another deputy in a vehicle pursuit.

But according to Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Scott Ferguson, he had a problem on the way there.

“There was water on the road just because of a quick rainstorm, which caused the car to hydroplane, causing the accident to take place,” said Ferguson.

Officials say Alley’s vehicle slid off the roadway, and the passenger side hit a tree.

He was first taken to the Washington County Regional Medical Center for his injuries, before being transferred to Wellstar MCG Health in Augusta.

He is currently at the Shepherd Spine Center in Atlanta, where he is partially paralyzed from the waist down, while also suffering broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

Lieutenant Darrell Usry has been working with him for 15 years. 

“When we got the call, we didn’t know it was as bad as it was–we just got a call that he had a wreck, and we had a couple of other things going on at that time,” Usry said. “So once you get there–and learn the extent of the injuries once he got to the hospital–it’s shocking. Very hard.”

The Sheriff’s Office and Sandersville Community Church coming together for a benefit lunch, gathering donations that will help pay for the mounting medical bills. 

“He’s still getting paid for doing the work, but it’s not like he can work any special jobs to make the extra money that makes ends meet. So we’ll be glad to help him out,” said Usry.

“It’s a tremendous thing to see a community that cares for our officers who are out there every day, putting their life on the line,” said Ferguson.

Officers say it’s also the least they can do for a brother and friend.

“He’s a tremendous asset to our law enforcement, a tremendous, caring individual not only for his job, but for his family. He’s raising his 12-year-old daughter, and doing a fantastic job of both—and it’s a hard thing to balance being both a police officer and a parent,” said Ferguson.

“He’s very dependable, works anytime you call him, does anything you ask him to do,” said Usry. “He goes out and helps the community, does everything he can–just an all around good guy.”

Sheriff Joel Cochran was not able to attend the benefit lunch, but makes this statement:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our deputy and his family during this difficult time. We are grateful for our firefighters and medical personnel’s swift response and professionalism. The safety and well-being of our deputies are of utmost importance, and we will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident. More details will be provided as more information becomes available.

The Sheriff’s Office also still needs help from the community to support Deputy Gordon Alley.

If you want to donate to support the Alley family, you can drop them off at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

They can also be made through Chief Deputy Mark McGraw at CASHAPP-$deputymcgraw or through Venmo– @wcso435.